New minimum wage rates for 2018

Last Autumn the Chancellor announced some significant changes to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) rates that will come into effect 1st of April 2018.

The NMW is the minimum pay per hour most workers are entitled to by law. The rate depends largely on a worker’s age and if they are an apprentice. If you’re above 25, you qualify for NLW instead.

The rate is a legal requirement and failing to meet it could result in the employer being fined and even featured in the annual list of shame.

Minimum wages are worked out as hourly rates but apply to workers even if not paid by the hour. If you pay annually, monthly or for piece work, for example, you will need to work out the equivalent hourly rate to see if you’re meeting the legal minimums.

Also it worth checking you are including all the activities that counts as working time, e.g. travelling between appointments, waiting to start a job, training.